the principles byu-idaho learning model of the

The Principles

of the

BYU-Idaho Learning Model

Take some time to look at the principles sheet

Which of these is the most difficult for you to apply to your learning right now?

A. Faith in Jesus ChristB. Holy Ghost

C. Word of God

D. Act for themselvesE. Love, Serve, and Teach

1. Exercise Faith in Jesus

Christ as a principle of action and power

H W A L

How can faith actually apply in my studies?

ScripturesCase Study Quotes

5

You are taking an economics class that seems too hard

to understand. You struggle to grasp some of the

concepts and numbers. This lack of knowledge is

embarrassing to you. You do not want your classmates

or friends to know that you are quickly falling behind so

you decide not to ask questions in class and to just

figure things out on your own.

Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ as a principle of action and power

W A L

Scriptures Quotes Back to Principle

H 5

OK, that sounds good, but how can I actually make it work for me?

W A L

2. Understand that true

teaching is done by and with

the Holy Ghost

Case Study ScripturesQuotes

F 5

You are in your first semester at BYU-Idaho. You want eventually to get into the nursing program. In the first pre-nursing class (BIO 101), your professor told the class that it is important to invite the Holy Ghost to the class each day. You trust the professor, but are not sure what difference it will make. After all, you have made it this far without “inviting” the Holy Ghost in all of your studies. You also know that lots of people who are not members of the Church have been able learn biology.

Understand that true teaching is done by and with the Holy Ghost

F W A L


5

3. Lay hold upon the word

of God —as found in the

Holy Scriptures and in the

words of the prophetsMy scriptures aren’t going to help me in my Math class. Why is this so important?


A LHF 5

You and a friend are eating lunch in the Crossroads. In

his personal study, your friend has been studying the

latest General Conference talks. He tells you that he

feels like taking the time to read those talks actually

helps him in his studies. You know that the talks are

good, but you barely have enough time to read your text

books. You are skeptical of taking the extra time for

Conference talks.

Lay hold upon the word of God—as found in the Holy Scriptures and in the words of the prophets


A LHF 5

4. Act for themselves and

accept responsibility for

learning and teaching.

Is it really my full responsibility to learn? What about my professors? Isn’t that their job?


W LHF 5

Chemistry is a tough class. You come to class each day

ready to be taught by the professor who has a Ph.D. You

seem to be really struggling to make a good grade. You

feel that the professor’s style of teaching just doesn’t work

for you. It is beginning to become frustrating. After all, the

professor is a professional teacher. You feel like it is the

professor’s fault that your grade is sinking.

Act for themselves and accept responsibility for learning and teaching.


W LHF 5

5. Love, serve, and teach one another

Yeah, that’s cute and everything, but to be honest, I don’t see how serving people will help me learn better.


W AHF 5

You were put into a group with three other people

in your Business 101 class. You are normally a

patient and understanding person, but the people

in the group really drive you up the wall. One guy

always shows up late, and the others just don’t

seem to care about the project.

Love, serve, and teach one another


W AHF 5

President Boyd K. Packer

“Somewhere in your quest for spiritual knowledge, there is that “leap of

faith,” as the philosophers call it. It is the moment when you have gone to

the edge of the light and stepped into the darkness to discover that the

way is lighted ahead for just a footstep or two. “The spirit of man,” … as

the scripture says, indeed, “is the candle of the Lord.” (Proverbs 20:27) (“The

Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, p. 51)

President Henry B. Eyring“It is [students’] faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His restored gospel and their obedience to His commandments that will put Him at the center of the school. Their faith will largely determine whether we learn here by study and also by faith. As we do, we will attain academic excellence. We will not attain academic excellence without that faith of yours as students and those that follow to learn by study and by faith.” (“A Steady, Upward Course,” BYU–Idaho Devotional, September 18, 2001)

Scriptures Back to Principle

Case Study

H W A L 5

Quotes Back to Principle

Case Study

H W A L 5

1 Nephi 7:12

Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to

do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so

be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to

him.

Moroni 10:4 …ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

President Gordon B. Hinckley“The Holy Ghost is the Testifier of Truth, who can teach men things that they cannot teach one another.” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 1997, p. 259)


Case Study

W A LF

President Spencer W. Kimball “The Holy Ghost is a revelator. Every worthy soul is entitled to a revelation, and it comes through the Holy Ghost. … “He is a reminder and will bring to our remembrance the things which we have learned and which we need in the time thereof. He is an inspirer and will put words in our mouths, enlighten our understandings and direct our thoughts. He is a testifier and will bear record to us of the divinity of the Father and the Son and of their missions and of the program which they have given us. He is a teacher and will increase our knowledge. He is a companion and will walk with us, inspiring us all along the way, guiding our footsteps, impeaching our weaknesses, strengthening our resolves, and revealing to us righteous aims and purposes.” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 23)

5

D&C 11:12-14

12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which

leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously;

and this is my Spirit. 13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of

my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with

joy; 14 And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things

whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of

righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.


Case Study

W A LF 5

Moroni 10:5

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

President Spencer W. Kimball“Many in the secular world are often adrift and anchorless. Only an education which educates for eternity has the wholeness which humans need. When we separate learning from divine moral truth it quickly deteriorates into a restless, roving search for meaning and often drifts into a sensual selfishness.” (Edward L. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 1982, p. 387)

President Brigham Young

“The philosophy of the heavens and the earth of the worlds that are, that

were, and that are yet to come into existence, is all the Gospel that we have

embraced. Every true philosopher, so far as he understands the principles of

truth, has so much of the Gospel, and so far he is a Latter-day Saint, whether

he knows it or not. Our Father, the great God, is the author of the sciences, he

is the great mechanic, he is the systematizer of all things, he plans and

devises all things, and every particle of knowledge which man has in his

possession is the gift of God.” (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, 2–3)


Case Study

A LHF 5

Helaman 3:25And so great was the prosperity of the church, and so many the

blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high

priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.

2 Nephi 9:29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.


Case Study

A LHF 5

D&C 88:78

Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be

instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of

the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are

expedient for you to understand;

Preach My Gospel “Study is an act of faith requiring the use of personal agency.” (2004, p. 17)


Case Study

W LHF

Elder David A. Bednar

“In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to

be acted upon (2 Nephi 2:13–14). As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we

have been blessed with the gift of agency—the capacity and power of independent

action. Endowed with agency, we are agents, and we primarily are to act and not

only to be acted upon—especially as we seek to obtain and apply spiritual

knowledge.” (“Seek Learning by Faith,” Address to CES Religious Educators, Feb. 3, 2006, Jordan Institute of Religion)

President Kim B. Clark“To learn by faith, students need opportunities to take action. Some of those opportunities will come … in the classroom, where prepared students, exercising faith, step out beyond the light they already possess, to speak, to contribute, and to teach one another. … It is in that moment that the Spirit teaches.” (Kim B. Clark, “Inaugural Response,” BYU–Idaho, Oct. 11, 2005)

5

D&C 58:26-28

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. 27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

D&C 123:17

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our

power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the

salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.


Case Study

W LHF 5

2 Nephi 2:14, 16 14 God … created all things … both things to act and things to be acted upon. 16 God gave unto man that he should act for himself.

President Boyd K. Packer“In this life we are constantly confronted with a spirit of competition. Teams contest one against another in an adversary relationship in order that one will be chosen a winner. We come to believe that wherever there is a winner there must also be a loser. To believe that is to be misled. In the eyes of the Lord, everyone may be a winner. Now it is true that we must earn it; but if there is competition in His work, it’s not with another soul—it’s with our own former selves.” (That All May Be Edified, 1982, p. 84)

Elder Robert D. Hales“As I have said, you are at a unique institution. Let me give you a challenge. I would like to give you encouragement to be able to share your gifts and talents so that you can tutor, mentor, be in a study group, or participate in the classroom so that after you leave this institution you will willingly give to others by lifting them and strengthening them.

“I give you a promise that if you will live your life in such a manner, you will find that both the giver and the receiver will be better off for their interaction.” (BYU – Idaho Devotional, Feb. 20, 2007)


Case Study

W AHF 5


Case Study

W AHF 5

Matthew 22:36-40 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

D&C 88:78, 11878 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructedmore perfectly … in all things … that are expedient for you to understand; 118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom.

D&C 88:122-125 122 Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. 123 See that ye love one another … learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires. 124 … cease to find fault one with another … 125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.

Elder Richard G. Scott

“When you encourage students to raise their hand to respond to a

question, they signify to the Holy Ghost their willingness to learn. That use of moral agency will

allow the Spirit to motivate and give them more powerful guidance

during your time together. Participation allows individuals to experience being led by the spirit.

They learn to recognize what spiritual guidance is.”

("Helping Others to be Spiritually Led, CES Symposium," August 11, 1998)

How might these principles interrelate with each other?

Faith in Jesus Christ

Holy Ghost

Word of God

Act for themselves

Love, Serve, and Teach

the principles byu-idaho learning model of the

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